#PopeFrancisPH: 10 Lessons From His Holiness' Visit We Should Never Forget

Pope Francis’ Philippine visit had us going crazy in excitement, but did you ever ask yourself what brought him to the Philippines in the first place? In case you forgot, he wasn’t here to kiss babies, wave at the crowds, or have people take selfies with him—he was here to give hope to the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda and to remind us of our earthly duty to be morally upright individuals.

As such, the Papal visit left us with some hearty baon for the soul, and we’re sharing them with you below.

Pope Francis’ homily during his Manila Cathedral mass may have been addressed to the clergy present, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take it to heart. Inspire the folks around you by doing good deeds especially when no one’s looking. Tip: If you’re not sure, asking yourself “What would Pope Francis do?” might help!

DREAM B-I-G

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“When you lose this capacity to dream you lose the capacity to love,” said Pope Francis to the thousands of people at the MOA Arena for the Encounter With Families. Never lose sight of your personal goals, no matter how small, and do your darndest to achieve them. God helps those who help themselves, so work hard for your dreams! #Word

LOVE YOUR FAMILY

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Your barkada may come and go, but you’re stuck with your family for life. Pope Francis said it best when he instructed the people gathered at the MOA Arena last January 16 to protect their folks. “Families will always have their trials, but may you never add to them! Instead, be living examples of love, forgiveness and care.” If you can say “I love you” to your girlfriend every day, it shouldn’t be hard to tell your parents how much they mean to you on a regular basis.

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A LITTLE EFFORT GOES A LONG WAY

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Pope Francis insisted on pushing through with his trip to Leyte even if Typhoon Amang was already wreaking havoc in the Eastern Visayas region. He didn’t do it to show off, but because he knew he had to be there for the people who need him most—the Yolanda survivors. Keep that in mind for when your lazy streak comes up.

RESPECT THE LADIES IN YOUR LIFE

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During his Encounter with the Youth at UST last January 17, Pope Francis noted that the audience had more guys than girls. He hoped to discuss that by giving a short lecture on the importance of the fairer sex. “Sometimes we are too ‘machistas’ and we don’t allow enough space to women. But women can see things from a different angle to us, with a different eye. Women are able to pose questions we men are unable to understand.” Duly noted, father!

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IT'S OKAY TO CRY

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We’ve been raised to think that crying is the farthest thing from being macho, but really, there’s nothing wrong with showing your emotions. “Certain realities of life we only see through eyes cleansed by our tears,” said Pope Francis, who pointed out that even Jesus shed a few tears here and there. “Be courageous, don’t be afraid to cry."

SURPRISES CAN BE FUN

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Even if you’re allergic to surprises, Pope Francis says you should still welcome the opportunity to be astonished every once in a while by the world around you…and of course, he connected it to love, the one topic we could all relate to. “Real love is being open to the love that comes to you. The love that surprises us. If you only have information you are not surprised. Love surprises because it opens a dialogue of loving and being loved.” Take it from the guy—he had a girlfriend, so he knows what he’s talking about.

SOME THINGS ARE WORTH SACRIFICING FOR

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Thousands of us spent hours under the sun and rain just to catch a fleeting glimpse of Pope Francis. Not everyone had the privilege of seeing him, but for true devotees, it was still a sacrifice worth making as the guy is the closest thing we have to a living saint right now. And honestly, we couldn’t think of anyone better to fanboy/girl over than the Pope right now.